Adjustable stairway and fire-escape



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. H. DYER. ADJUSTABLE STAIRWAY AND FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. DYER. ADJUSTABLE STAIRWAY AND FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

l4 mom H600 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. DYER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE STAIRWAY AND FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,262, dated April 6,1897.

Application filed July 2, 1896. Serial No. 597,827. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DYER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented an Improvement in Adjustable Stairways and Fire-Escapes;and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in stairways. It is especiallyadapted for stairways in which the direction of the exit and extrance atthe opposite ends must be regulated to suit the points where thelandings are located.

It consists in certain details of construction, which will be more fullyexplained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a general View of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional viewof one of the steps. Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the steps and itsconnections. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing it applied to arectangular post. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a detailof one of the bands.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and easily-adjustablemeans of building spiral and other stairs so that the posi-. tion of thelandings at top and bottom may be accurately located without thenecessity of laying out anew each set of stairs to suit the particularlocation.

This device is especially adapted for use as a fire-escape inconjunction with stand-pipes which are used upon the exterior buildingsfor conveying water for fire purposes, and is also available in storesand buildings in which it is desirable to reach galleries and wherethere may be posts in such positions that they can be utilized for thepurpose.

A is a central column, which may either be already in position or it maybe set for the particular purpose. This column may also be thestand-pipe which extends up outside the building and serves for theconnection of engines, so as to raise water to the top of the buildingin case of fire. In the latter case it is set sufficiently far from thewall to admit the spirally-arranged steps.

13 B are a series of rings or collars which are made to fit the columnand may either be slipped over it when it is being put together or setin place or the rings may be made in halves and bolted together, so thatthey can be placed upon the column and secured at any time. These ringsare provided with setscrews or clamps C, by which they are fixed at thedesired point upon the column. Upon one side of each of these rings is aprojecting lug or support D, which is adapted to receive and support theinner end of the step E, which is secured thereto bybolts E. These stepsmay be made of any suitable material, but in the present case I haveshown them as made of three-sixteenth-inch steel plate, and they divergefrom the point where they are bolted to the lugs outwardly, being madealso of any desired length.

The outer periphery of the steps may be curved to correspond with thecenter about which they are supported, and they have a great number ofholes F made through them to receive the standards by which the outerends are supported. These standards G are screw-threaded at the lowerend to receive the locking-nuts H, and at a point above this,

equal to the height or rise between the steps,

is another set of collars I, which support the outer end of the nextadjacent step, these collars being secured bypins, or, if preferred, thestandard maybe screw-threaded to this point, thus allowing of an easyadjustment of the distance between the steps to correspond with theposition of the supporting central rings. These parts may all be gottenout in quantity and ready for use whenever and wherever desired, it onlybeing necessary to know the size of the central standard about which thestairway is to be constructed, and the rings for this purpose can bemade for the particular work when this size is known.

The plates forming the treads of the stairs are made of any width at theouter end, and by means of the holes through the outer ends it will beseen that they can be adjusted with relation to each other and theconnectingstandards, so that they can be regulated for any given heightof step for any desired num ber of turns of the spiral in reaching thepoint to be attained at the top, and they may also be regulated exactlyto suit the point of outcome or the landing-platform where the stairsare to terminate.

J is the hand-rail, to which the upper ends of the standards areconnected, as shown, the outer ends of the steps being suspended andadjusted therefrom.

If the device is employed in conjunction with stand-pipes forfire-escapes, it will be IO seen that the branch pipes for the variousfloors can be easily taken from the stand-pipe at points below thelanding, so as not to in any way interfere with the stairway.

If the central post is rectangular or shaped I 5 otherwise thancylindrical, the bands or rings B will be made to fit it, and each onemay have the projecting lug or support D made in the form of a segmentoccupying one side of the rectangle.

A curved groove or channel cl is made in the lower face of eachsegmental support, and a bent hook-shaped lock-bolt 61 passes throughthe step, the lower end turning up so as to enter the groove or-channeland the upper screw-threaded end having a nut by which it is securelylocked to the step. This construction allows the steps to be movedhorizontally about the arc of the segment and adjusted with relation toeach other to suit the rise and 0 tread and the position of thelandings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combination in a stairway of a stepsupport, collars and meanswhereby they are adjustably clamped upon the support, said collarshaving supporting lugs, segmental tread-plates having horizontal,flat-faced inner ends adapted to fit and be secured upon said lugs andstandards by which the outer 4o ends are adj ustablyconnected andsupported.

2. In a stairway, a step-support, collars fitting thereto and set-screwswhereby they are secured at any point thereon, said collars having lugsprojecting horizontally from the sides, segmental tread-plates, theinner ends of which are fitted to the lugs, bolts passing verticallythrough the plates and lugs and securing one to the other, the outerends of said plates having a series of perforations around theperiphery, standards adapted to be secured to two or more of the stepswith devices whereby they are ad j ustably secured to said steps.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE H. DYER.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, J ESSIE C. BRODIE.

